Coupler centering arrangement



United States Patent [1113,542,21l

[72] inventor Willis H. Knlppel [56] References Cited Palos a Illinois UNITED STATES PATENTS [2]] Appl. No. 767,768 778,514 12/1904 Tesseyman 213/20 [221 1,346,545 7/1920 Kelso 213/ Patented Nov. 24, 1970- [73] Assignee Pullman Incorporated 1 Primary Exammer-Drayton E. Hoffman Chicago, Illinois a corporation of Delaware COUPLER CENTERING ARRANGEMENT Attorneys-Jlilmond O. Vogel and Wayne Morris Russell ABSTRACT: A coupler centering device which includes a pair of levers swingably mounted on the center sill of a railway car, with a preloaded spring interconnecting said levers so that said levers exert a force against opposite sides of an abutment associated with the coupler to swing said coupler to a centered position, and a third lever carrying said abutment is also swingably mounted and includes latch means for connecting and disconnecting the device relative to the coupler.

Patented Nov. 24', 1970 3,542,211

WILLIS H. KNIPPEL Patntd' Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet Q or 4 INVENTOR WILLIS H. KNIPPEL BY W A T'Y.

Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet ATT'Y.

' coupler for centering the same.

COUPLER CENTERING ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention I The present invention relates to railway cars and more particularly to the couplers which interconnect the cars'automatically during makeup of trains. Railcar couplers generally include shanks which are pivotally connected to the center sill of the railway car and can swing through an angle between 13 to 15 on either side of the longitudinal center line of the center sill. In the use of particularly long shank couplers it is readily apparent that in the extreme positions the coupler head is displaced at a considerable distance from the center line. During the intercoupling of cars, when one car impacts into the other, if at least one coupler of the car is positioned at its extreme position, there is a possibility that the coupler heads may bypass each other which frequently can cause damage to the coupler arrangement and to the car. The present invention specifically relates to a coupler centering device which urges the coupler to its centered position thereby preventing the bypassing of couplers.

2. Description Of the Prior Art arrangements.

' SUMMARY same to its center position and other similar centering arrangements.

SUMMARY The present invention comprises a coupler centering device including a plurality of levers which are pivoted for swinging movement with the coupler shank and are preloaded by means of a helical spring so as to exert a force on opposite sides of the The levers are disposed in a nested arrangement and also include a latching lever which is adapted to be connected and interconnected with the coupler to place the centering arrangement in operative or inoperative positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a coupler centering device shown in relation to a coupler at one end of a center sill of a railway. car;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the coupler centering device of FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a centering device showing a coupler swung to one side of the center line of a center sill;

FIG. 4 is aplan view showing the coupler swung in an opposite position to the position shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a coupler centering device;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an end of a latching lever in relation to a latch plate connected to a coupler shank; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded view disclosing theindividual parts of a coupler centering arrangement including its relation to a latch plate mounted on a coupler shank.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings a coupler centering device 10 comprises a coupler 11 having a conventional head (not shown) and includes a coupler shank 12. The shank 12 is pivotally mounted by means of a pivot pin 13 to a carrier plate 14 suitably secured to a conventional longitudinally extending center sill 15. The center sill 15, which is formed conventionally of Z-sections, is provided at opposite ends with diverging vertical webs 16 provided at their lower ends with outwardly extending flanges 17. As best shown in FIG. 2 the webs 16 are joined by a top plate 18. The diverging webs 16 provide a bell-mouth opening as designated at 19 across which is connected a striker plate 20 forming part of an I-shaped member. The center line of the sill 15 is designated at 21.

The coupler centering device 10 comprises, as best shown in FIG. 8, a pair of levers 22 each of which has a laterally extending arm 23 provided with a vertical opening 24 and having a longitudinally extending contact end 25. At the opposite end of each lever 22 there is provided a vertical opening 26. A lever 27 is nested between the levers 22 and includes a longitudinally extending finger 28 provided with a contact end 29. The opposite end of the lever 27 is provided with a vertical pivotal opening 30 and includes a laterally extending arm 31 provided with a vertical opening 32. The lever 27 is formed of a double thickness and thus has the equivalent strength of the two levers 22 disposed on opposite sides thereof. A latch lever Oneof these is shown inthe" 33 is disposed beneath one of the levers 22 and includes a vertical pivotal opening 34. The latch lever 33 also is provided with an open U-shaped end portion 35 having suitably secured therein a vertically extending upright plate 36 having an undercut portion or notch 37.

As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the centering device 10 in-.

cludes a centering release mechanism 38 comprising a rod 39 pivotally mounted on pivot brackets 39' secured to the webs 16, with said rod 39 extending across the bell-mouth opening 19 as best shown in FIG. 1. The rod 39 is rotated by suitable handle means 40 disposed at opposite ends thereof. An offset portion 41 of the rod 39, in one position extends through the undercut portion 37. The latch lever 33 is provided on its top surface with an abutment member 42 which in the centered position of the latch lever 33 is alined with a vertical bracket 44 carried on a transversely extending member 43 suitably secured to the web 16 of the center sill as best shown in FIG. 1. A latch plate 45 is suitably connected to the underneath surface of the coupler shank 12 as best shown in FIG. 2. The latch plate 45 includes tapered sides 46 and a centrally disposed notch 47.

The levers 22, 27 and 33 are'connected to the carrier plate by means of a threaded bolt 48 extending through'a spacer sleeve 49, through spacer washers 50 and openings 34, 26, 30 and into a threaded bore 51, as shown in FIG. 2 of the carrier plate 14. A suitable setscrew 52 is threaded into the carrier plate 14 to tightly secure the bolt 48 into position. Thus the levers 22, 27 and 33 are suitably pivotally mounted relative to the center sill 15 and swing in similar fashion as the coupler shank 12.

' A spring means 53 includes a rod 54 having at one end a.

clevis 55 and a retainer plate 56. A second retainer plate 57 is slidably supported on the rod 54 on the other end thereof. The retainer plate 57 includes an outwardly extending bored boss 58 through which the rod 54 extends. A bolt 59 is connected to the threaded end 60 of the rod 54 to permit sliding adjustment of the sliding retainer plate 57. A coil spring 61 is disposed and held captive between the plates 56 and 57 and may be pretensioned to the desired degree by adjustment of 57 also includes a pair of ears 62 suitably apertured to receive suitable threaded interengageable fasteners 63 which extend through the openings 24 of the levers 22 to rigidly secure the retainer plate 57 to the arms 23 of said levers 22. The clevis 55 is connected to the transversely extending arm 31 of the lever 27. A pivot pin 64 suitably apertured at opposite ends, is secured through openings 64' in the clevis 55 and the opening 32 of the lever 27. The pin 64 is suitably locked in position by means of cotter pins 65 which extend through apertures of said pins.

THE OPERATION As indicated above, the spring 61 is suitably pretensioned to the desired degree and exerts a biasing force between the arms 23 and 31 thereby urging the said levers 22 and 27 to maintain the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. In this position the contact ends 25 and 29 respectively of the levers 22 and 27 are in engagement with the sides of the vertical bracket 44. The

latch'lever 33 as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 also is in position wherein the end portion 35 is disposed in the notch 47 and thus the latch lever 33 is secured for swinging movement with the coupler shank 12. In this position the abutment 42 also has its sides in engagement with the contact ends 25 and 29 of the respective levers 22 and 27.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 3 and 4 the two extreme angular positions of the coupler shank 12 are disclosed. Asa force moves the coupler shank 12 in FIG. 3 toward one side of the bell-mouth opening 19 the lever arm 22 is pivoted since the contact end 25 thereof is positioned against the abutment 42 so that said lever'arm 22 swings with the coupler shank 12. This movement causes the retainer plate 57 to slidably move along the rod 54 and to compress the spring 61 since the arm 31 of the lever 27 is maintained in a stationary position. The compression of the spring 61 therefore continually urges the coupler shank 12 to return to the centered position of FIG. 1. Thus, if the car is disconnected from an adjacent car any force which has moved the coupler shank 12 to the position shown in FIG. 3 now provides'for actuation of the compressed spring to return the shank 12 to its centered position.

In the position of FIG. 4 the coupler has moved to an opposite extreme position and in this instance the lever arm 27 has pivoted to the position shown with the coupler shank 12. The arm 31 now has pivoted and the retainer plate 56 moves and compresses the spring 61 against the retainer plate 57 whereupon the spring 61. urges the coupler lever 27 and shank 12 back to the center position of FIG. 1.

Thus it is apparent that the coupler shank is continually urged to its centered position and therefore it will not stay in any of the extreme positions which normally would cause bypassing of the coupler during makeup of the train. Under some circumstances it may be required to couple the railway car on a curve. It is then necessary to position the coupler at an angle displaced away from the center line 21 to achieve proper coupling with an adjacent car. In such a case the coupler centering device is disconnected from the coupler shank 12. This is achieved by the centering release mechanism 38. By rotating the handle 40 the offset portion 41 of rod 39, enters into the under cut portion 37 of the end portion 35 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and forces the lever 33 downwardly as shown in FIG. 7 so that the end portion 35 is out of engagement with respect to the notch 47 of the latch plate 45. Thus the coupler may now be manually swung to the off center position desired for engaging the coupler of another car. Rotation of the handle 40 to the position shown in FIG. 6 again will permit the engagement of the latch lever 33.

The features of the present design include the preloading of the spring which permits positive centering. Preloading is based on centering of the largest coupler with an added force for positioning the uncoupling device. Thus positive centering is achieved.

By virtue of the arrangement of the levers the centering forces are equal in both directions of angular movement and thus accurate positioning of the coupler is assured by the use of a single spring. Further, any tolerances of the pivot connections have no effect on the centering ability. This is because system as possible is provided. If different springs are required additional spacing of the spring space between the arms 31 and 23 is unnecessary since different rate springs will fit into the space provided.

iClaim:

1. In a coupler mounting arrangement including a coupler head and a shank pivotally connected to a sill so that said coupler is laterally swingable thereabout,a coupler centering arrangement for yieldably maintaining said coupler in substantially centered position with respect to the longitudinal centerline of said sill, com rising:

first and secon levers each having one end thereof pivotally mounted on said sill for swinging movement with said coupler;

abutment means associated with said coupler;-

said levers having second ends disposed on opposite sides of and being engageable with said abutment means;

spring means having a first end connected to said second end of said first lever;

said spring means having an opposite end connected to said first end of said second lever;

said spring means being held captive between said first end of said second lever and said second end of said first lever; and

said spring means biasing said levers and said second ends into engagement with said abutment means to resiliently urge said coupler lever; and its centered position.

2. The invention according to claim 1 said coupler centering arrangement including a third lever having one end pivotally connected to said sill for swinging movement with said first and second levers, said abutment means being connected to said third lever, and means releasably disconnecting said third lever to said coupler.

3. The invention according to claim 2, said disconnecting means including a latch element mounted on said coupler, and a releasable latch member on said third lever engageable with said latch element.

4. The invention according to claim 1, said second end of said first lever including a transversely extending first arm to which said first end of said spring means is connected, and said first end of said second lever including a transversely extending second arm to which said opposite end of said spring is connected.

5. The invention according to claim 4, including stop means on said sill disposed between said levers. limiting swinging movement of each lever in an opposed outward direction relative to the centerline of said sill.

the spring automatically takes up the slack. By virtue of the symmetrical nested lever arrangement as near a balance force 6. The invention according to claim 4 including a third lever having one end pivotally connected to said sill for swinging movement with said first and second levers, said abutment means being connected to said third lever lever, and means releasably disconnecting said third lever to said coupler.

7. The invention according to claim 6, the connection of said spring means to said levers being pivotal.

8. The invention according to claim 6, said disconnecting means including a latch element mounted on said coupler, and a releasable latch member carried by said third lever engageable with said latch element.

9. The invention according to claim 8, said levers being positioned in superposed relation and having a common pivotal mounting means on said sill. 

